Well-known Pakistani fashion designer Maria B has expressed outrage at transgender activist Dr. Mehrub Awan following a highly controversial comment regarding a Palestinian journalist who lost his family in Israeli bombings.
The incident has sparked intense debate on social media, highlighting issues of accountability, humanitarian sensitivity and freedom of speech.
Maria B shared a video on Instagram with a caption: “The era of the great deception is ending. The curtains are coming down now… stand with Haq. Protect the innocent and never give up hope #Boycottforlife”
The controversy centers around a social media exchange in which Dr. Mehrub Awan, a transgender activist, commented “deserved” in response to a post by Muhammad Saad (@hafizsaadriaz), which described the tragic plight of a Palestinian journalist who lost his three sons and wife in Israeli airstrikes and had faced multiple attempts on his life.
Saad’s post: “A Palestinian journalist who lost his three sons and his wife in Israeli bombing, had multiple attempts on his life, is being abused by Pakistani nationals because he supports Imran Khan! That’s where we are in the Holy Month of Ramadan!”
Dr. Mehrub Awan, who identifies as Khawaja Sira and openly discusses being transgender, responded simply: “deserved.”
Maria B reacted strongly, condemning the statement as crossing a moral boundary: “We know that people lie and mislead all the time but there is a level where humanity ends. You have crossed that line.
Commenting on someone whose child was martyred in Gaza and whose family has been devastated is beyond comprehension. Disagreeing with opinions is one thing, but saying that to someone who has suffered genocide shows a complete lack of humanity.”
She further criticized what she described as a “transgender agenda” being linked to misinformation and political interests, particularly alleging connections to Israel in extreme narratives:
“The agenda of sexual divisions is pushed by those who are causing our children to be martyred in Gaza. This agenda is built on lies and deceit. There are two sides in global politics: those who stand with truth and Gaza, and those who stand with lies, inhumanity, and genocide.”
The designer has been vocal about supporting Palestine, frequently using her platform to condemn Israeli actions and advocate for a boycott of Israeli goods in protest against atrocities committed against innocent Palestinians.
Maria B’s collections have been showcased on international platforms, and she also has a large customer base in the Middle East.
